Selective printer including settable,resiliently driven type wheels

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for printing available coded data having type wheels individually arrestable in a printing position and resiliently connected to a drive shaft through springs. Idler means are provided for each type wheel and each idler means if firmly coupled with its respective type wheel and resiliently driven by a shaft. Means including at least two locking wheels are positioned independently of each idler means and of each other, with the means including the locking wheels being resiliently driven by the shaft. In addition, means are provided for arresting each locking wheel, with each said locking wheel being provided with stop means for avoiding advancement of the idler means as compared to each of the locking wheels, with the arresting means controlled by the data to be printed consecutively, being engaged alternatingly, one each for one printing operation.

United States Patent Kittel June 13, 1972 [72] inventor:

Frankfurt am Main, Germany [22] Filed: April.15, 1970 [21] Appl.No.:28,621

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 17, 1969 Germany ..P l9 19404.8

[52] U.S.Cl. ..101/93 C, 197/18, 101/1 10 [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lj 7/48,B41j 5/44 [58] Field oiSearch ..l0l/93 C, 110, 93 R, 93 MN; 235/144 S,144 P, 144 N; 197/1, 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,307,676 3/1967 l-lickerson..101/110 X 1,997,167 4/1935 Bryce ..l0l/93 C 2,661,683 12/1953Benttie.... .....101/93 C 1,909,550 5/1933 Peirce ..101/93 C 2,109,3092/1938 Breitling ..101/93 R Hermann Kittel, Stockheimer Str. 16, 6 v

2,458,339 l/1949 Buhler et a] ..197/1 A Primary Examiner-William B. PennAssistant Examiner-15. M. Coven Att0rney-Walter G. Finch [57] ABSTRACTApparatus is provided for printing available coded data having typewheels individually arrestable in a printing position and resilientlyconnected to a drive shaft through springs. ldler means are provided foreach type wheel and each idler means if firmly coupled with itsrespective type wheel and resiliently driven by a shaft. Means includingat least two locking wheels are positioned independently of each idlermeans and of each other, with the means including the locking wheelsbeing resiliently driven by the shaft. In addition, means are providedfor arresting each locking wheel, with each said locking wheel beingprovided with stop means for avoiding advancement of the idler means ascompared to each of the locking wheels, with the arresting meanscontrolled by the data to be printed consecutively, being engagedaltematingly, one each for one printing operation.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDJUN 13 1912 I Q 3, 669.01 6

HERMANN kl IN VEN TOR wamfw SELECTIVE PRINTER INCLUDING SE'ITABLE,RESILIENTLY DRIVEN TYPE WHEELS This invention relates generally toprint-out apparatus, and more particularly to a device for printing outavailable coded data with type wheels being individually arrestable inprinting position and connected resiliently through spring means with adrive member.

In the field of data processing and transmissionof intelligence as wellas of measuring and controlling technique, there are often used printingunits to visualize, for instance, electronically calculated ortransmitted data. Due to the high operation speed of electronicstructural elements, the connected printing units must be capable ofoperating very quickly to permit a good utilization of the existingequipment.

As for test data printers, it is additionally necessary to record theoperational behavior of a machine or plant by means of numerical dataand to keep such data accessible at any time. The real use of such data,however, is only made in a few cases so that a high expenditure for theprinting unit is thus unjustified.

There are already known printing units controlled by punched cardreaders, and which, corresponding to the position of holes in a punchedcard, are printing individual information on a data carrier.

For this purpose, a stepping wheel driving the type wheel is resilientlycoupled with a drive wheel. Sensing a hole in the punched card, thestepping wheel is stopped by the engagement of a pawl, while the driveshaft goes on tuming' with undiminished. speed. The type wheel beingcoupled with the stepping wheel, the printing type selected at themoment of engagement of the pawl in the stepping mechanism stays for atime in the printing position, thus permitting printing. Thereafter, thestepping wheel is released.

This will be accelerated to such an extent by the spring connected withthe drive shaft that it returns to the original position of angle ofrotation relative to the drive shaft and it is prepared for theselection of another printing type.

Such printing units allow a relatively slow printing sequence, theselection of the next printing character, and the preparation of thenext printing operation being only possible when the stepping wheel isagain in the defined position of angle of rotation relative to the driveshaft. Upon an earlier income of the arresting impulse, a wrong type isreleased for printing.

There are also known printing units comprising type wheels connectedthrough torsion springs with one of common drive shaft. Only part of thecircumference of the typewheels is fitted with printing types, the otherpart being provided with pawls. During a printing cycle, the drive shaftchanges its sense of rotation. Thus this pennits the corresponding pawlsto engage the teeth of the type wheel. During the subsequent returnmovement, release of the type wheels for the preparation of a newprinting cycle is accomplished.

Also, in this case, the printing sequence is slowed due to the factthat, upon termination of the printing, the springs must be relaxed eachtime before new printing information'can be evaluated. It is necessaryto brake and accelerate the entire system during each printing cycle.Therefore, a'further slowing of the printing sequence is caused by thisrequired altemate rotation of the shaft.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a unit forprinting out available coded data with type wheels being individuallyarrestable in a printing position and resiliently connected throughspring means with a drive member, with the preparation of the nextprinting operation being already possible when the spring, tensionedduring the printing operation, has not yet reached its idle position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for each type wheelan intermediate idler wheel resiliently by a shaft and firmly connectedwith the type wheel, with the intermediate wheel being provided with atleast two locking wheels being resiliently driven by the shah and eachbeing arrestable by an associated one pawl, the advance of the idlerwheel as compared to each locking wheel being avoided by stops, and

the pawls-conn'olled by the data to be printed consecutively-engagingaltematingly, each locking wheel for one printing operation.

And another object of this invention is to provide a device in which theprinting of information is immediately followed by the setting for thenext information without necessitating the return to the prior position.During the operation, the shaft is rotated at a constant speed. Arotation of corresponds to one revolution of the type wheel such that,in the case of the two locking wheels, each semi-revolution of the shaftallows one character to be printed. in the idle position, the lockingwheels as well as the idler are driven by the shaft in like manner. If,however, information to be printed is conveyed to an electronicregister, one of the pawls engages the corresponding locking wheelproviding the information in the register coincides with the type of thetype wheel in the printing position. Due to the stopping of the lockingwheel, it is avoided through the stop that the idler goes on turning,while the type wheel consequently remains in the desired position.

The second locking wheel, however, goes on rotating synchronously withthe shaft. Upon termination of the printing, the locked locking wheel isreleased and, like the idler, is accelerated by the tensioned torsionalspring until the position of the angle corresponding to the position ofshaft is reached again. But the printing operation of the next charactercould be already prepared before by the other pawl engaging in thecorresponding locking-wheel. By stopping this locking wheel, the idlerneed not follow the new angle position of the shaft after the printingof the first character. It is stopped again before the relaxation of thespring, in order to print the next character. By contrast, the lockingwheels are always returned to their initial position with respect to theshaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device in which thereis an independent, rotary, coaxial arrangement of idler and lockingwheels, with each wheel being driven by an appertaining further wheelfitted resiliently on a drive shaft. The coaxial provision of wheelsrequired for the impression is realized by intermeshing of correspondingprojections and recesses of the wheels.

Still even another object of this invention is to provide a devicehaving a drive shaft with stops in order to avoid the advance of theother wheels. This is achieved by a steady pretension of the torsionalsprings, even when the whole printing unit is in the idle position. Theadvantage of such a provision is that sufficient spring power isobtained upon relaxation of the spring even shortly before reaching thestop. A quick and safe operation is thus obtainable.

A favorable structure is realized with the arrangement of the lockingwheels on opposite sides of the idler, the latter exhibiting twoprojections in reverse order by 180 each of which engaging in asemi-circular slot provided in the appertaining locking wheel, the slotsin the locking wheels being displaced relatively to each other by 180 inidle position. Then the idler is alternatingly stopped by thebilaterally arranged locking wheels, and the appertaining torsion springis always tensioned again.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a printing unitwhose parts serve to select and prepare the prinn'ng types. They actalternatingly in time on theidler, and, consequently, on the type wheelconnected to it. This will permit a very quick operation, with the partsthereof being subjected to strong accelerations and slow down responseand working slowly and alternately.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and single sheet of accompanying drawings whichillustrates a typical embodiment of a printing unit, with only the drivefor one sole printing site incorporating features of the invention.

It is to be noted that several similar devices may be used within therange of a line printer, but it is also possible to provide otherprinting machines in this manner.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a printing unit having adrive shaft 1 which is fitted with a single-revolution clutch (notillustrated) which facilitates the initiation of each individualprinting operation. By operating the clutch, the drive shaft 1 is turnedcounterclockwise by 180. A bushing 2 is fixedly connected to the driveshaft 1, and it is provided with a slot 3 in which is fastened the coreof a helical spring 4.

The outer end of the spring 4 rests against the edge 5 of segment 6 of awheel 7. The wheel 7 as well as wheels 10, 11, being also supported bycorresponding bushings 35, 36, is pivotable with respect to shaft 1, andit is normally actuated through helical spring 4.

This helical spring 4 is normally biased to urge an edge 8 of a segment6 against a cam 9 of the bushing 2. The same resilient synchronizedarrangement is provided for wheels 10 and 1 1.

Locking wheels 12, 14 and an idler 13 arranged between them arepivotally mounted on an axle 27. The wheels 7, 10 and 11, arecircumferentially formed with radially spaced teeth in the peripherythereof with all wheels having the same number of teeth in the presentcase. During an operation when no information is selected, viz. noprinting operation, wheels 7, 10, and 11 are turned counterclockwise by180 and wheels 12, 13, and 14 also turn clockwise by 180.

ldler 13 is provided with two lateral projections or pins 15, 16, whichare displaced relatively to each other by 180. Pins 15, 16 engage incorresponding slots 17, 18 formed in the locking wheels 12, 14. Innormal position, projection rests against the upper edge 19 of wheel 12,and projection 16 rests against the lower edge 20 of slot 18.Semi-circular slots 17, 18 are normally not aligned with each other asview in the draw- In the event two successive pieces of information areto be printed, the selection of the first piece of information is madeat the locking wheel 12, and of the second one at wheel 14. At thebeginning of the first cycle, wheels 7, 10, and 11 are drivencounterclockwise through the helical spring 4 by the revolution of driveshaft 1; they drive wheels l2, l3 and 14 with which they are constantlyintermeshing so that these wheels are commonly turned clockwise. ldler13 is constantly intermeshing with a transfer wheel 21 which, in turn,drives a wheel 22 of type roller 23. As soon as idler 13 starts to turnclockwise, type roller 23 is also moved clockwise.

There is provided at drive shaft 1 a coding plate (not illustrated) isdelivering pulses to an electronic plotting panel, the pulsescorresponding to the position of drive shaft concerned. These pulses areconstantly compared with the information to be printed and stored in aregister, and in case of conformity, one of the magnet systems 24, 28gets a current impulse, attracting the appertaining armatures 25, 29 andcausing the pawls 26, 30 to be inserted into a space between twoadjacent teeth of wheels 12, 14.

Upon blocking of wheel 12, for instance, in such a way that theprojection 15 of idler 13 is moved into engagement with the edge 19 ofslot 17, whereby further rotation of wheel 13, and also of type roller23 is thereby precluded. The selected character on type roller 23 isstopped, and remains in a printing position up to the moment of printingon paper or on another document.

While wheels 7, l2 and 13 are blocked this way, drive shaft 7 continuesto turn, while helical springs 4 of wheels 7 and 10 are tensioned.Locking wheel 14 which did not yet participate in the selection oftypes, continues rotating due to the drive of helical spring 4 in wheel11 whereby its speed remains constant. I

Edge 20 of slot 18 moves over and relative to the projection 16 of theblocked idler 13. The printing operation properly speaking is carriedout just before the termination of the 180 rotation of shaft 1 wherebythe selected information is printed, and, immediately thereafter, pawl26 is removed from the path of motion of the teeth of the wheel 12.

Wheel 12 is then released, and spring 4 of wheel 7 urges wheel 12clockwise until edge 8 of segment 6 stops at cam 9 of bushing 2. Uponrelease of wheel 12, edge of slot 17 also removes from projection 15 ofidler 13, which again is turned clockwise by the tensioning helicalspring 4 in wheel 10 and follows edge 19 in wheel 12.

During the movement of wheels 12 and 13, and consequently, of typeroller 23, the selection of additional information may have been alreadyinitiated by engaging shaft 1 for the next revolution by Selection ofthis second or additional information is carried out with locking wheel14 having followed with constant speed the revolution of drive shaft 1due to helical spring 4 provided in wheel 11.

When selecting the second piece of information, the magnetic system 28receives a current impulse when the position of the locking wheel 14coincides with the information intended for printing and stored in theregister. The current impulse causes the mature 29 to be attracted,while pawl 30 is pushed into the gap between spaced teeth of wheel 14coinciding with the read-out information.

It is possible that type roller 23 is still in a position which does notcorrespond to the information to be printed out. Roller 23 and idler 13are still capable of achieving the catchup operation, while the positionto be resumed is already determined at locking wheel 14. If idler 13still accomplishes the catch-up movement by virtue of the tensionedhelical spring 4 in wheel 10, such movement may be limited by pin 16moving into engagement with the edge 20 of slot 18.

When the second revolution by 180 of drive shaft 1 is terminated,information determined by the locked position of wheel 14 and preparedin type roller 23 is printed. At that time, helical spring 4 in wheel 7has moved wheel 12 so that edge 8 of segment 6 moves into engagementwith cam 9 of bushing 2, thus insuring that wheel 12 goes on turningwith the speed predetermined by the revolution of drive shaft 1.

Selection of a third piece of information after the printing of thesecond piece of information again occurs by energizing of magnet system24 in synchronization with locking wheel 12 rotating with steady speed.

Within the scope of the invention, a great number of modifications ofthe embodiments as disclosed is possible. Helical springs 4 may beallowed to act directly on locking wheels 12, 14 and on idler 13respectively. Moreover, there may be used three or four locking wheelsinstead of the two locking wheels 12, 14 used in the instant case, saidlocking wheels becoming effective consecutively in a cycle.Circumference of locking wheels must be modified subject to thesubdivision made accordingly.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for printing available coded data having type wheelsindividually arrestable in a printing position, comprising, idler meansprovided for each type wheel and firmly coupled to its respective typewheel, at least two locking wheels positioned independently of saididler means and of each other, a drive shaft, said locking wheels andsaid idler means being driven independently by said drive shaft, meansfor arresting each of said locking wheels from movement, each of saidlocking wheels being provided with stop means for engaging andpreventing advancement of said idler means as compared to each of saidlocking wheels, and said arresting means being controlled in accordancewith the data to be printed consecutively and being urgable altematinglyinto engagement with the locking wheels, one each for each printingoperation.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said idler means and saidlocking wheels are coaxially arranged and pivotally mountedindependently of each other, and an appertaining wheel means mountedresiliently on the drive shaft for driving each said locking wheel.

3. Apparatus recited in claim 2, and additionally, stop means mounted onsaid drive shaft, said appertaining wheel means having a segment formedin one surface thereof with an edge thereof being movable with saiddrive shaft in a path in which said stop means is positioned, said edgeengaging said stop means when said appertaining wheel means is returnedto a normal position subsequent to a printing operation.

4. Apparatus recited in claim 2, and additionally, means for resilientlydriving said appertaining wheel means including a helical spring havingits inner end fixed at the drive shaft and the outer end of which attachat said wheel means.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking wheels arearranged on opposite sides of said idler means, each of said lockingwheels being formed with a semi-circular slot formed therein, said slotsin said locking wheels being displaced relatively to each other by in anidle position, said idler means being fonned with two projectionsdisplaced relatively from each other by 180 and on opposite sides ofeach of the locking wheels, each projection being located in thesemicircular slot of the locking wheel adjacent to the side of the idlermeans from which the particular projection extends to limit movement ofthe idler means when the locking wheel is prevented from moving.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said appertaining wheelmeans is fitted with a toothing for the drive, and the arresting meansengage the toothing on said locking wheels.

* I I I i

1. Apparatus for printing available coded data having type wheelsindividually arrestable in a printing position, comprising, idler meansprovided for each type wheel and firmly coupled to its respective typewheel, at least two locking wheels positioned independently of saididler means and of each other, a drive shaft, said locking wheels andsaid idler means being driven independently by said drive shaft, meansfor arresting each of said locking wheels from movement, each of saidlocking wheels being provided with stop means for engaging andpreventing advancement of said idler means as compared to each of saidlocking wheels, and said arresting means being controlled in accordancewith the data to be printed consecutively and being urgablealternatingly into engagement with the locking wheels, one each for eachprinting operation.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saididler means and said locking wheels are coaxially arranged and pivotallymounted independently of each other, and an appertaining wheel meansmounted resiliently on the drive shaft for driving each said lockingwheel.
 3. Apparatus recited in claim 2, and additionally, stop meansmounted on said drive shaft, said appertaining wheel means having asegment formed in one surface thereof with an edge thereof being movablewith said drive shaft in a path in which said stop means is positioned,said edge engaging said stop means when said appertaining wheel means isreturned to a normal position subsequent to a printing operation. 4.Apparatus recited in claim 2, and additionally, means for resilientlydriving said appertaining wheel means including a helical spring havingits inner end fixed at the drive shaft and the outer end of which attachat said wheel means.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlocking wheels are arranged on opposite sides of said idler means, eachof said locking wheels being formed with a semi-circular slot formedtherein, said slots in said locking wheels being displaced relatively toeach other by 180* in an idle position, said idler means being formedwith two projections displaced relatively from each other by 180* and onopposite sides of each of the locking wheels, each projection beinglocated in the semi-circular slot of the locking wheel adjacent to theside of the idler means from which the particular projection extends tolimit movement of the idler means when the locking wheel is preventedfrom moving.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein saidappertaining wheel means is fitted with a toothing for the drive, andthe arresting means engage the toothing on said locking wheels.